World Reviewer rating

Providencia

In the Caribbean, midway between Costa Rica and Jamaica, and closer to Nicaragua than Colombia, this island is a proper island paradise. The temperature averages out at a pleasant 25 degrees, the ocean is bright blue, the sand pale and fine and the interior lush and hanging with fruits and flowers, and known for being one of the best preserved in the Caribbean.

Diving, snorkelling and bumming on the beach are the main reasons people come to visit this island. Though very beautiful, Providencia is hardly an Eden – it’s a bit too languid and sensual, with too many exotic flavours, passion fruit and mango – which is why it’s interesting to note that the island was the sight of an English Puritan colony. It’s more like a pirate hideout – which it was – home base for Henry Morgan the famous buccaneer.

On a practical note the island’s main language is supposed to be Spanish but in practice it’s Caribbean English. Providencia is a half hours flight from San Andres Island, the capital of the island archipelago group.